Multi-modulated photochromic behavior of a D-A type dithienylethene

Abstract The development of multiresponsive photochromic materials is of increasing interest for their potential application in the complicated chemical and biological environment. Here, a novel D-A type dithienylethene derivative NDM, in which dimethylamino group acted as both electron donor (D) and recognition moiety for H+, and the dicyanovinyl group functioned as electron acceptor (A) and responsed to cyanide anion, has been designed and synthesized. And its structure was confirmed by 1H NMR, 13C NMR and HRMS (ESI). As expected, dithienylethene NDM exhibited distinctive multi-modulated photochromic properties by solvent, acid and cyanide anion stimulation. Moreover, NDM can be acted as a potential fluorescent turn-on pH-sensor and colorimetric sensor for CN− in biological field.